Anti-Bullying Policy

This is a statement of the aims, principles and strategies for the founding of an anti-bullying culture at Vita et Pax Preparatory School.

Rationale

Bullying is the use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person.  Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim. Therefore, such behaviour does not belong in our caring, sharing community.

Bullying can be:

• Emotional - being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (e.g. hiding books, threatening gestures)
• Physical - pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence
• Racist - racial taunts, graffiti, gestures
• Religious - debasing people because of their religious beliefs
• Cultural - making people feel inadequate because of their cultural differences
• Disabled - making fun of people because of a physical or mental disability
• Sexual - unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments
• Homophobic - because of, or focussing on the issue of sexuality
• Verbal - name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing
• Cyber - All areas of internet ,such as  email & internet chat room misuse
           - Mobile threats by text messaging & calls
           - Misuse of associated technology , i.e. camera & video facilities

Aim

At Vita et Pax, we are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all, so they can work and learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable in our school. If bullying does occur, we should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We are a TELLING school. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the staff.

Objectives

• To ensure all governors, teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and parents should have an understanding of what bullying is.
• To ensure all governors and teaching and non-teaching staff should know what the school policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.
• To ensure all pupils and parents should know what the school policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises.
• To understand that as a school we take bullying seriously. Pupils and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.
• To understand that bullying will not be tolerated.

Guidelines:

What to do if another child is bothering or bullying you.

Creating a positive environment is instrumental in ensuring that bullying has no place here therefore, the School Council have drawn up a set of school and playground rules [APPENDIX I & II] and the five step procedures are discussed at the start of every term [APPENDIX III]. These are displayed in every form teacher’s classroom. Pupils displaying bullying behaviour will have the incident logged onto a Pupil Bullying Report [APPENDIX IV]. A copy will be kept with the Headteacher and in the Class Teacher’s yellow Progress Studies file.

Signs and Symptoms

A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and that they should investigate if a child:

• is frightened of coming to or from school
• is frightened of separating from parents/carers in the playground
• changes their usual routine
• is unwilling to go to school (school phobic)
• begins to truant
• becomes withdrawn, anxious, or lacking in confidence
• starts stammering
• attempts or threatens suicide or runs away
• cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares
• feels ill in the morning
• begins to do poorly in school work
• comes home with clothes torn or books damaged
• has possessions which are damaged or "go missing"
• asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay bully)
• has dinner or other monies continually "lost"
• has unexplained cuts or bruises
• comes home starving (money / lunch has been stolen)
• becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable
• is bullying other children or siblings
• stops eating
• is frightened to say what's wrong
• gives improbable excuses for any of the above
• is afraid to use the internet or mobile phone
• is nervous & jumpy when a cyber message is received

These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated.

Procedures

1. Report bullying incidents to staff.
2. Staff make a note in their Behaviour Management Diaries.
3. In cases of serious bullying, the incidents will be recorded by staff onto the Pupil Bullying Report, filed in the yellow Progress Studies file and a copy given to the Headteacher.
4. In serious cases parents should be informed and will be asked to come in to a meeting to discuss the problem.
5. If necessary and appropriate, police will be consulted.
6. The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated and the bullying stopped quickly.
7. An attempt will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour.

Outcomes

1. The bully (bullies) may be asked to genuinely apologise. Other consequences may take place.
2. In serious cases, suspension or even exclusion will be considered.
3. If possible, the pupils will be reconciled.
4. After the incident / incidents have been investigated and dealt with, each case will be monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take place.

Prevention

We will use a number of strategies, including some suggested by KIDSCAPE to help staff and children prevent and monitor potential or outright bullying. As and when appropriate, these may include:

• discussing the school anti-bullying rules during assembly, at the start of every new term
• using the SEAL anti-bullying resources during assemblies
• using circle time, PSHCE and RE to discuss and alleviate potential barriers to a caring society
• displaying these rules in every classroom
• asking the bully to sign a behaviour contract
• logging misdemeanours in the disciplinary diaries and discussing trends or indicators termly with relevant
• staff to help identify patterns of behaviour
• writing stories or poems or drawing pictures about bullying during circle or form time
• reading stories about bullying or having them read to a class or assembly
• making up role-plays  
• having discussions about bullying and why it matters
• making Club2Talk available at all times, for a confidential discussion with Mrs. Hall-Freeman or any other suitably suggested adult.
• raise awareness of staff through training [whole school INSET, staff meetings and induction]

Kidscape have been helpful in devising this anti-bullying policy.
Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) 0808 800 5793
Children's Legal Centre 0845 345 4345
KIDSCAPE Parents Helpline (Mon-Fri, 10-4) 0845 1 205 204
Parentline Plus 0808 800 2222
Youth Access 020 8772 9900
Bullying Online www.bullying.co.uk
www.kidscape.org.uk for further support, links and advice.

Bullying

Although bullying is not tolerated in school, we recognise that instances of bullying may occur. We try to foster in all pupils, an openness and willingness to talk about the concerns that we have. We also encourage older pupils to look after younger ones and act as ‘buddies’, reporting any concerns they may have about a friend to a teacher. At the beginning of each new term and at other appropriate moments, all children are reminded of the strategies that are in place to prevent bullying. A list of these anti-bullying rules are on display in every classroom. If an instance of bullying is suspected, staff act straight away. The Headteacher and subsequently parents are informed so that the matter can be resolved as soon as possible.

APPENDIX I

VITA ET PAX SCHOOL RULES

I promise to try my best to follow the school rules at all times by...

1. always wearing full school uniform and looking neat and tidy.
2. being truthful at all times.
3. being brave and owning up when I know I am in the wrong and remembering to apologise.
4. respecting everyone around me, including myself.
5. being a role model to others by showing good-manners.
6. being a good friend and trying to include others.
7. respecting other people’s property.
8. walking sensibly on the left, along the corridors or up and down the stairs.
9. leaving windows to be opened by a member of staff.
10. moving my chair quietly, without scraping it along the floor.
11. not wandering around the school without a teacher’s permission.
12. being proud of my school.

APPENDIX II

VITA ET PAX SCHOOL PLAYGROUND RULES

1. Keep all the School Rules in the playground.
2. Pick up any litter and put it in the bin.
3. Treat the garden and all creatures with respect.
4. Help and care for the younger children.
5. Be a good friend and try to include others in your games.
6. Be mindful of others when playing fast or boisterous games.
7. Only play football in the bottom playground.
8. Juniors are not allowed on the playground until 12:15pm.
9. Keep an eye on the bus stop for lonely pupils.
10. Have a fun time!

APPENDIX III

School Council Notice: BULLYING

What to do if another child is bothering or bullying you

1. Tell the child to go away
2. Walk away
3. If they follow you or continue to be a nuisance, tell a teacher or an adult
4. If the bullying prevents you telling an adult at school, tell your parents as soon as you get home
5. Ask your parents to tell the teacher

APPENDIX IV

Right-click to download the Pupil Bullying Report Word document. This is password-protected for authorised users only.